Cleaning Authority parent buys home care franchise company

Authority Brands LLC, the Columbia-based parent company of The Cleaning Authority, has acquired Homewatch International, expanding from franchising house-cleaning services into home-based care.

The acquisition is the first step of a plan to develop Authority Brands as a multi-brand franchise organization. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We will focus on home service franchises, but not specifically ones related to house cleaning,” said Rob Weddle, president and CEO of The Cleaning Authority and Authority Brands, in a statement.

Homewatch International is the franchisor of Homewatch CareGivers, a provider of home care for people of all ages, which has more than 200 franchise locations in seven countries.

“Homewatch CareGivers has established itself as an innovator in the rapidly growing senior care segment and will align with the successful franchise system we’ve built in The Cleaning Authority,” Weddle said

The Cleaning Authority has more than 215 franchise locations. The combined company will have 250 employees and revenues of $330 million.

Authority Brands is a portfolio company of PNC Riverarch Capital, which acquired a controlling interest in The Cleaning Authority in 2014.

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The FCC’s inspector general confirmed he was investigating questions raised by lawmakers surrounding the deal.

The FCC’s inspector general confirmed he was investigating questions raised by lawmakers surrounding the deal.

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Thiel has said the Bay Area tech industry has become increasingly intolerant of conservative political views.

Thiel has said the Bay Area tech industry has become increasingly intolerant of conservative political views.